We know it’s been a rough season so far for the New Jersey Devils. The team is struggling, borderline bad, there are injuries all over the place, and the perpetually strong Devils defense has been shockingly poor. So what is there to be happy about if you’re a Devils fan? The imminent return of Brian Rolston to the lineup should get you a little bit excited at least. Rolston, who’s been out of the Devils lineup thanks to a sports hernia, hit the ice this morning for a full practice with the team and he’s hoping to be back in the lineup this week. Tom Gulitti of Fire & Ice has the details.

It is Rolston’s first full practice with the team since having surgery to repair a sports hernia on Oct. 14. Rolston has been skating for the last two weeks. His estimated return time was four to six weeks and this Thursday would be four weeks since his surgery. The Devils’ next game is Wednesday night against Buffalo at Prudential Center.

Getting Rolston back in the lineup would provide a nice, veteran boost to the team that’s been rolling out a host of players who should be spending more time in AHL Albany than in New Jersey. With injuries to Rolston, Zach Parise, and Jacob Josefsen, however, forwards like Alexander Vasyunov, Stephen Gionta, and Brad Mills have all had opportunities to get ice time in New Jersey. For a team that’s supposed to be a Stanley Cup contender, this is a less-than optimal situation. Rich Chere of the Newark Star-Ledger gets more tempered optimism from Rolston about when he’ll be coming back.

“I’m not going to tell you I’m playing Wednesday,” Rolston said cautiously. “I told them I’m ready to practice with the team.”

While Rolston’s second tour of duty in New Jersey has been filled with a severe lack of offensive production and regrets from Devils fans over Rolston’s monstrous cap hit, the Devils at least don’t have to worry about making a roster move when he returns. Of course, that’s mostly thanks to the Devils still having Bryce Salvador and Zach Parise now on LTIR but that’s neither here nor there right now. The point is, someone on New Jersey that’s of some importance is getting healthy and any little bit of good news for the Devils is a good thing.